International Relations and Sociology

International relations and sociology together provide a comprehensive framework for understanding the world at both the global and the social level. International relations analyses the interactions between states, international institutions, non-governmental organisations, and other actors in the global system, examining questions of security, diplomacy, conflict, international law, development, and global governance. Sociology brings a different but complementary perspective, focusing on the structures, inequalities, and processes within societies, exploring how class, race, gender, and other social divisions are produced and how institutions shape individual and collective life.

Together the two disciplines allow you to move between the local and the global, understanding how domestic social conditions are shaped by international forces and how global processes are embedded in particular social contexts.

At Aston University you will study this three-year full-time programme, which includes a sandwich year, a year abroad, and a placement. This combination of international and professional experience is exceptional for a social science degree, giving you first-hand engagement with different societies and real-world professional contexts during your studies. Across the programme you will study international relations theory, global political economy, security and conflict, sociology of inequalities, research methods, and contemporary global issues.

The typical entry tariff is 120 points, and Aston's location in Birmingham gives you access to one of the UK's most diverse and internationally connected cities.

Graduates from this programme work in international organisations, NGOs, government departments, foreign affairs, journalism, development agencies, the civil service, and the research sector. The analytical and research skills developed during the degree are also valued in the private sector, particularly in organisations with international operations. The sandwich year and placement experience strengthen graduate employability considerably.

Postgraduate study in international relations, development studies, sociology, global governance, or related fields is a common route for graduates seeking specialist or research careers.